Union suit.



W. H. BILBROUGH.

UNION SUIT.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 21, 1912.

1,120,892. Patented Deo. 15. 1914.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

YHE NQRRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-Lindo, WASHINf. VON. nv C.

W. H. BILBROUGH.

UNION SUIT.

APPLIGATION FILED 11111.21, 1912.

1,120,892. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2 sHBB'r'HsHnET 2.

"HE MORRIS PETERS C0.. FHOT0LITHO,. WASHINGTON. n. t

WILLIAM ii. ieiiaoueii, or ELivrinA, New YORK.

` iunioii SUIT.

inattesa.

, Specification of Letters Patent.l

'Patented Dec. 15, 1914..

Application filed March 21, 1912. Serial'No. 585,286;

To all 'whom it may concern: i Be it lrnown thatI, WILLIAM vBIL- BRoUei-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New Yorlnhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Union Suits, of which the following is a specifica'- tion. Y

This invention relates to garments' and vmore particularly to that class of garments lrnown as union suits. y

The objects of this invention are'to pro` vide a garment which issimple in construction, is adapted to thoroughly cover the posterior parts of the wearer and also to serve as a suspensory.

Other objects and the features ofrnovelty will be apparent from they following'dev scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which',

Figure 1y is a reark view of a union suit embodying thek invention, the suit being shown as laid out fiat; Fig. l2-is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1, but with the large flap folded over to show the crotch construction Fig. 3 is a front view of the garment shown in Fig.` 1; Fig. 4 is a' fragmentaryfront view of the garment withouttherear flaps; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the garment without the rear flaps; Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the folds atthe top of the large flap; Fig. 7 isa detail of the lower partof the -rear flap; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a detail showing the arrangement of thereinforceinent for the buttonhole in the'rear Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the body of the garment which is preferably foimed from a section of knitted tubular fabric, the wales of which run lengthwise of the garment to give elasticity sidewise so that the garment will conform to the shape of the body of the wearer.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown theleg portions of the garment slightly separated in order to better illustrate the constructionV of the garment. The leg portions 11 and 12 are preferably formed by making a `central 1f-shaped c ut 13 in the tubular section, from the' bottom to the point 141 which is a short distance below the' crotch 15. From the point 14 the front side lof the tubular section is out lengthwise to theneclr andthe portion o f said out above the crotch 15 has the edges finished in any desirable'manner Hap; Fig. 8 is a detail of the small and closed by fastening means, such as the buttons 16. From .the point 14 the rear of the tubular section is `cut lengthwise to a point 17, preferably near they waist line.

The upper partl ofthe garment may be 'formed in any preferred manner, butas the construetioi'i` thereof, illustrated, vforms no part of the present invention, 'a detailed de-y scription thereof is deemedunnecessary.

The edges of the legportions 11v and 12 are sewed togetherfroni the bottom-'t0 the point 14. Above the point 14 the edges of the legvportions are sewed to iaps arranged in a manner about to be described. `In order to effectively cover the opening, at the rear of the garment, which extends from the point 14to`the ypoint 17, I provide a large flap 18, which" preferably oonsistslof an upper section 19, having a pluralityof folds (I prefer to use two such folds)A arranged with lthe wales of the rfabric running crosswis'e'of` garment, fand a lowery section 20'havingthewales running lengthwise of the'garment. Thefold's 19 are .sewed togetherf-,alongthe edges21fa`ndk 22-a`nd their lower edges 23 are sewed to the upper edge 24 of the section20. Thek upperv edge 22 of a the flap" is sewed to the body of the garment along the line 25 and the edges 26 and 27 ofthe sections of theiiap are` sewed to the edge 28 of the opening extending lfrom the' point 14 to the point 17 Q' From Figs. 6 and 7 it will'be seen'.4 that the edges 26k and 27 of thej'sections'of'the flap are slightly n y giving fullness tothe nap. i The lower edge curvedfor the purposeof r 29 of the section 2O of the flap is Iturnedun-Q der and sewed along the frontedge 30 ofthe leg, this edgeveiitendingl from' the point 14 to the crotch 15. Theside edges 21 and 3l of the sections 19 and 20, respectively are out on a curve, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in order to give especial fullness to that portion of the flap which is intended to overlie i the buttoclrof thewearer and permit the vfree edge of the Hap to be positioned along the side of the thigh of the wearer. In order to prevent the section 19 of the flap from stretching at its free edge, I secure along said edge a strip 32 of kcomparatively inelastic material such as'tapeI When sired, the iiap may be provided with a. button-hole 38 which is ladapted to receive la button 34, securedto the body of the'v gar ment, for the purpose of positively securing the flap inlclosed position. The peculiar construction of flap 18, however, tends to make the same self retaining, thus rendering a button, as usually required at this point in garments as heretoforemade, unnecessary. By having the upper section 19 of the flap made of two folds, the button-hole 33 may be conveniently reinforced by means of a small piece of comparatively inelastic fabric, such as satine, 35, which is arranged be-` tween. the folds, where it is concealed, and is stitched and fastened by the button-hole stitching. In the stitching which secures the sections 19 and 2O together, the edge 24 of the section 20 is preferably arranged between the folds of the section 19, in order to provide a neat and effective seam.

From the construction of the flap, above described, it will be seen that it will' conform to the shape of the wearers posterior', because the upper section 19 will give elasticity lengthwise, owing to the fact that the wales thereof run crosswise, and the lower section 20 which is arranged over the buttock will be elastic crosswise, owing to the fact that the wales thereof run lengthwise. Since the fabric is comparatively inelastic in the direction of the wales and the free edge 21 of the section 19 is made inelastic by means of the tape 32, it will be apparent that the free edge of the flap is comparatively inelastic throughout its .entire length and there-v fore, as the interior'portion ofthe flap is elastic invboth directions, it will conform to the wearers posterior and the-free edge be arranged along the side of the thigh and hold the flap in closed position. When the wearer assumes a stooping or sitting posture, the section 19 of the flap will stretch and lthereby render the garment comfortable for all positions of the wearer, while at the same time causing it to closely conform to the body of the wearer. By having the wales of the lower section run lengthwise, I also avoid, to a large extent, the possibility of having thefiap become stretched and loose, due to a permanent stretching of the fabric.

From Fig. 7 it will be observed that the edge 29 of the section 20 is cut on a curve of comparatively short radius and when sewed to the'edge 30, this produces a fullness 36 in the leg portion 12 of the garment, which is adapted to act as a suspensory, thereby enhancing the health andcomfort of the wearer. In order to fully close the crotch of the garment and also construct the leg portion 11 of the garment similar to the leg portion 12, I have provided a small flap 37, the lower portion of which is formed substantially thek same as the lower portion' of the section 20 of the large flap, but which has its upperedge cut on a diagonal, as shown in Fig. 3. The edge 38, which, as shown in Fig. S, is cut slightly on a curve to give special fullness at this point, is sewed of the section 20 of the large along the edge 39 from the point 14 to the point 40. The edge 41 of the fiap 37 is sewed along the edge of the garment, which extends from the point 14 to the crotch 15, the corner 43 of the flap being arranged at the point 14 and the edge 44 of the flap may, if desired, be secured to the edge 31 flap, at the crotch, for the purpose of making a closed crotch( If an open crotch is desired, this part can be simply left unfastened, thus making this garment most desirable as being readily made into either a closed or open crotch as the trade may demand. The edge 39 above the point 40 may be finished iny any desired manner. The edge 45 of the flap 37 is by this arrangement left free and may be edged or hemmed in the usual manner,- and the curved edge 41 provides a fullness 46 in the leg portion 11 of the garment, which is similar to the portion 36 of the leg portion 12. The advantages of thus iaving both sides similarly constructed will be obvious.

It will be understood that instead of constructing the section 19 of the large flap of a plurality of folds I may use a single fold of comparatively heavy fabric, but I prefer to use a plurality of folds as by this means I may` use the same material for this section of the flap as is used for the section 20 and the other portions of the garment. It will also be understood that various other minor changes may be made in the construction of the garment, within the scope of the claims, as I claim broadly a flap having sections with the wales of one section running at an angle to the wales of another section and with the free edge of the flap substantially inelastic lengthwise, for the purpose described.

Having thus described what I claim is:

1. A garment having an opening therein, and a flapy arranged to cover said opening, said Hap comprising two fabric sections having their adjoining edges secured together and with the wales of one section eX- tending at an angle to the wales of the other, said flap also having one of its longitudinal edges along both fabric sections secured to the body of the garment and the opposite edge thereof free, and means for rendering said free edge substantially inelastic throughout its entire length.

2. A garment having an opening therein and a flap arranged to cover said opening, said flap being secured to the garment along an edge extending lengthwise of the garment, and having the opposite edge thereof free, and comprising two fabric sections secured together along their adjoining edges, with the wales of one section extending crosswise of the garment and the wales of the. othersection extending lengthwise of my invention,

Aao

the garment, and the free edge of the flap being substantially inelastic.

3. A garment having an opening therein and a flap arranged to cover said opening, said flap being secured at the top and along an edge extending lengthwise of the garment, and having a free edge extending lengthwise of the garment, and comprising an upper fabric section having the wales thereof extending crosswise of the garment and provided with means for rendering the free edge thereof substantially inelastic, and a lower fabric section having the wales thereof extending lengthwise of the garment.

4. A garment having an opening therein and a flap arranged to cover said opening, said flap being secured at the top and along an edge extending lengthwise of the garment, and 'having a free edge extending lengthwise of the garment, and comprising an upper fabric section having a plurality of folds with the wales thereof extending crosswise of the garment and provided with means for rendering the free edge thereof substantially inelastic, and a lower fabric section having the wales thereof extending lengthwise of the garment. 5. A garment having a central longitudinal slit in the back thereof, said slit extending a short distance down the inner side of both leg portions, an elongated four-sided flap having one of its longitudinal edges lse-l cured along one edge of said slit and the back edge of one of said leg portion slits, and its lotherlongitudinal edge free, and having its upper edge secured across the back of the garment, and its lower edge convexly cuived and secured along the front edge of said leg portion slit, a substantially triangular flap having one edge secured along the back edge of the other of said leg portion slits and a portion of the other edge of said back slit, the lower edge of said triangular flap being convexly curved and secured along the front edge of said last-mentioned leg portion slit, as and for the purpose described.

6. A garment having a central longitudinal slit in the back thereof extending a short distance down the inner side of one of the leg portions, an elongated four-sided iiap having both of its longitudinal edges convexly curved and one of said edges secured along one edge of said slit, and the other of said edges free, the upper edge of said iiap being secured across the back of the garment, and the lower edge thereof being convexly curved and secured along the front edge of the slit in the leg portion of the garment, said flap having a section thereof with wales of the fabric extending crosswise of the garment and another section. with the wales of the fabric extending longitudinally of the garment, and the free edge of the flap being substantially inelastic, as and for the purpose described.

7. A garment having an opening therein and a flap arranged to cover said opening,

said flap comprising two fabric sections, one` ofwhich has a plurality offolds, with the wales thereof extending crosswise of the fiap, and a substantially inelastic free edge, and the other of which has the wales extending lengthwise of the flap, said fabric sections being secured together along their adjoining edges, said garment having a but-y ton on the body thereof and saidflap having a button-hole therein extending throughy said plurality of folds, and a reinforcement for said button-hole arranged between said folds and secured in position by the buttonj` hole stitching. n

8. A garment having a longitudinal open,- ing in thebaclr thereof, aself-retainingiflap secured along one edge of said opening andy adapted to close the same and having its upper edge secured to the back'of the gar-` ment, said flap consisting of a plurality'of fabric sections arranged with the wales of one section running at an angle to the wales of another fsection, wherebythe .lapas a whole isfrendered elastic in y,all directions,

and said flap also having asubstantially inelastic convexly curved free edge running be arranged at the side of thewearers pos-` terior, substantially as described.

9. A garment of the class described, having a longitudinal opening in the back thereof, a self-retaining iap securedy along one edge of said opening and adapted to close '95 lengthwise of the garment and adapted to the sanie'and having its upper edge secured f to the'back of the garmentysaid flap consisting vof a plurality of fabric sections with the wales of one section `ruiming crosswise of the ap and the wales of another section running lengthwise of the flap, 4whereby the flap,'as a whole, is rendered elastic in all directions, and said flap valso having a subiin stantially inelastic convexly curved free` edge running lengthwise of the garment and adapted to be arrangedat the side of the wearers posterior, substantially as de* l scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatur in presence of two witnesses. i

WILLIAM I-I.- BILBIiiOUGrII.y

lVitnesses S. O. GARCIA, M. A. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D; G. l 

